Epithelial proliferative lesions of the breast are a heterogeneous group of intraepithelial lesions that includes ductal hyperplasia without atypia, atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), glandular adenosis, intraductal papillomas, lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN), and radial scar (RS)/complex sclerosing lesion (CSL). These can be extremely difficult to subclassify on cytological specimens [Sneige and Staerkel, 1994; Frost et al., 1997; Silverman et al, 1993], but a strong effort must be made by cytopathologists to make a distinction between the major categories, especially those requiring different management and treatment. Beyond the direct consequences of a "benign" or a "malignant" diagnosis, the correct identification of proliferative breast lesions is fundamental in predicting the possible subsequent development of invasive carcinoma [Abendroth et al., 1991].
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